The Constitutional Convention
The Constitutional
Convention begins




1787 - Philadelphia
Delegates from all the
states invited to a
convention to improve
the Articles of
Confederation, which
were not working
Only RI didn’t attend
55 Delegates
attended
Leaders of the Convention




George Washington was asked to
preside (lead) over the convention.
James Madison kept notes of the
discussions and is often called “The
Father of the Constitution.”
The men who wrote the Constitution are
called the “Founding Fathers.”
All the participants in the Convention
were wealthy, white, males.
The Founding Fathers
Goals of the Constitutional
Congress
1.
2.
3.
Firm, dignified, respected government
Wanted government to have power to tax
and enforce taxation
Wanted a government that could protect
their commercial interests
Issues that divided the
Nation’s leaders



The power of the federal government. Would the
states or the federal government have the most
power?
Representation in Congress (How many
members on Congress would each state get? –
small states wanted equal representation, large
states wanted it to be determined by population
of the states
Slavery – How would slaves be counted? Would
the slave trade continue?
The Virginia Plan







Proposed May 29, 1787 by Edmond Randolph
Called for a new national government. Threw out the Articles of
Confederation
Three separate branches of government. – a legislative
branch, executive branch, and judicial branch
Chief Executive that had the power to veto any legislative act
that was elected by the legislature.
Proposed a Federal Court System to enforce the legislative acts
of the government
Representation in the legislative branch based on population of
state
Large states like the plan, small states don’t.
New Jersey Plan










Proposed by William Paterson
Articles of Confederation would be retained and all stated would
have equal representation in Congress
Legislature - has one house.
Each state gets one vote.
Congress is given the power to collect taxes regulate commerce
Plural Executive department-more than 1 person
No veto power for Executive department
This plan also wanted a Federal Court System
Small states like the plan, the large states hate it.
There would have to be a compromise!!!!!!
The Great Compromise




The end result was the Connecticut Compromise
proposed by Roger Sherman of Connecticut
Legislature would have two houses (parts): House of
Representatives and a Senate
House - based on the population of state and would
represent the people
Senate - two senators per each state elected by the
legislature that would represent the state
Slavery






The Southern states refused to approve the Constitution unless
slavery continued.
It was a terrible compromise to make, but the Northern states had
no choice if they wanted a Constitution.
3/5 Compromise - Made each slave worth 3/5 of a vote in deciding
numbers in House of Representatives
Congress is unable to ban the slave trade until 1808.
Also Congress could not place any tax on exports going to other
countries
Finally the delegates agreed to a provision known as “the fugitive
slave clause”. This clause said that escaped slaves had to be
returned to their owners,even if they were caught in a free state.
Areas of Argument
Protection of private property
 Strong government with a series of checks and balances
(3 branches of government Executive, Legislative,
Judicial)
 How should the Chief Executive be elected? Should
there be one Executive or three?
 Against universal manhood suffrage (didn’t want
everybody to vote)
It took 17 weeks to come to an agreement.

The Electoral College



At the Constitutional Convention, the delegates used the Virginia Plan as the basis for
discussions, as the Virginia delegation had proposed it first. The Virginia Plan called
for the Executive to be elected by the Legislature. Delegates from a majority of states
agreed to this mode of election. However, the Committee of Eleven, formed to work
out various details including the mode of election of the President, recommended
instead that the election be by a group of people apportioned among the states in the
same numbers as their representatives in Congress (the formula for which had been
resolved in lengthy debates resulting in the Connecticut Compromise and Three-fifths
compromise), but chosen by each state "in such manner as its Legislature may
direct." Committee member Gouverneur Morris explained the reasons for the change;
among others, there were fears of "intrigue" if the President was chosen by a small
group of men who met together regularly, as well as concerns for the independence
of the President if he was elected by the Congress.
Some delegates, including James Wilson and James Madison, preferred popular
election of the executive. Madison acknowledged that while a popular vote would be
ideal, it would be difficult to get consensus on the proposal given the prevalence of
slavery in the South.
The Convention approved the Committee's Electoral College proposal, with minor
modifications, on September 6, 1787. Delegates from the small states generally
favored the Electoral College out of concern that the large states would otherwise
control presidential elections.
Through the eyes of Charlie
Brown
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1BgnTdR
4n_k